Chad Jackson a rare mistake

Wednesday, September 3, 2008 -- Anonymous (not verified)

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New England Patriots

Wednesday, September 3, 2008

Author(s):

Steve BuckleyXXXXX

FOXBORO - When the Patriots landed wide receiver Chad Jackson in the second round of the 2006 NFL Draft, football fans throughout New England were treated to a highlight reel of dazzling, eye-popping catches.

The kid had it, we all agreed. Heck, even now, type in Jackson’s name on YouTube and the first hit you get is him winning the “Best Hands” competition at the 2006 College All-Stars challenge.

“This guy’s stock is rising as we speak,” chortles one of the announcers as Jackson deftly wraps his mitts around pass after pass after pass fired his way by a collection of electronic contraptions.

“He’s just showing off now,” says another announcer.

This is a big-time exhibition!

Put some gravy on top of that!

He’s got himself a Sony!

Yet by last Sunday, Jackson was more or less standing on Route 1, his luggage and his Sony by his side, waiting for the ride he hopes will take him to his next NFL job. Either idled or ailing for most of his two seasons with the Patriots, he finally was released, sent on his way, thanks for stopping by, good luck in your future.

Patriots coach Bill Belichick, always diplomatic under these circumstances, said Monday that Jackson worked hard, that he had a good offseason and a good training camp. He took a lot of reps. Was there for every practice. Did everything he could do.

“I think Chad is a good football player and I am sure he will play for somebody,” the coach said. “It wouldn’t surprise me if he played real well. It just didn’t work out here, this year, at this point in time. I don’t know any other way to put it.”

Just a few years ago, we’d all have been rolling our eyes and saying, “Here we go again,” as we drove past Chad Jackson, standing out there on Route 1 with his luggage and his Sony. It would not have been an occasion to criticize the failure of the player, but rather, to criticize the team that did the drafting.

We were just staggering out of the Bobby Grier era in Patriots history. When Bill Parcells grabbed his grocery list and ran off to run the New York Jets, the Patriots received something like 1,263 draft picks in return. And so we welcomed the likes of Chris Canty and Sedrick Shaw and Tony Simmons . . . in one door and out the next.

While it’s convenient to bark out the secret to the Patriots success is Tom Brady and a cast of thousands, the reality is the current regime of Bill Belichick and Scott Pioli has done a remarkable job using the draft to continuously retool the roster. Linebacker Jerod Mayo, the team’s first pick in this year’s draft, will be a starter.

That’s why the exodus of Chad Jackson is such a surprise. It’s the same with the Red Sox, the only difference being that their failed draft picks fall from the vine in the lower reaches of the team’s farm system, their names unknown to the Fenway Park masses. A for instance: When right-hander Michael Bowden made his major league debut last Saturday, it meant the Sox first five picks in the 2005 draft had all made it to the big leagues, the others being Jacoby Ellsbury, Craig Hansen, Clay Buchholz and Jed Lowrie.

Left unsaid is that their sixth pick, catcher Jonathan Egan, was released in spring training. The Red Sox have been so on the mark with their scouting in recent years that Egan’s failure to advance stands out as something of a surprise. Sox GM Theo Epstein and his crew, and this would include scouting director Jason McLeod, simply don’t miss very often.

And so it goes with the Patriots. When a ballyhooed pick doesn’t deliver the goods, you don’t stamp your feet and make with the jokes about Eugene Chung, Phil Olsen, Ken Sims and other Draft Day busts from yesteryear.

You just wish Chad Jackson all the best, and marvel at how Mayo seems to fit in so well so quickly.